Climate Innovation.NRW
Bringing together expertise in climate innovation and strengthening collaboration and knowledge transfer among startups, research institutions and the business community.
© Jens Kirchner
Climate Innovation.NRW is the center of excellence for climate expertise. Startups play a central role as drivers of innovation toward a green economy—especially given their potential to reduce emissions. We support them in realizing their climate protection potential. To this end, we promote knowledge transfer between universities, startups, the business community, and society.
Through the Climate Impact Qualification, we help business consultants and startups across North Rhine-Westphalia to align their business models and products with climate-friendly principles from the very beginning.
Through the Climate Innovation Expert Hub, we connect stakeholders in the field of climate protection. Using a variety of formats, we bring together knowledge about climate innovations from the worlds of science, politics, business, and the startup scene, and ensure that this knowledge is translated into practical applications—for sustainable impact.
Climate Innovation.NRW is a joint project of the Gateway Excellence Start-up Center and the Sustainability Office at the University of Cologne, funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Our Qualification Program:
Climate Competencies for Startups and Startup Advisors
Through the Climate Impact Qualification, which we offer in partnership with the Wuppertal Institute and the EWI (Institute of Energy Economics) at the University of Cologne, you will learn:
- to understand the climate impact and climate protection potential of startups
- to develop climate-friendly business models
- to evaluate different options holistically, and
- to communicate climate impact transparently and credibly
For Startup Advisors: Become a Climate Innovation Coach
Sustainability and climate impact are no longer just “nice-to-haves” for startups—and therefore for their advisors as well. Credibly addressing a startup’s own climate protection potential is a crucial factor for all founders in finding strong partners and attracting key investors and dedicated employees.
Climate neutrality is one of the major issues shaping the future of politics, business, and society. With the Climate Impact Qualification, you can confidently advise and support your startups on climate-related issues and their impact.
For Founders: Become a Climate Innovator
If you consider the climate protection potential of your products, services, and business model from the very beginning, you can:
- make informed decisions about your business model’s impact early on,
- credibly demonstrate your impact to investors and funding providers,
- demonstrate and communicate it effectively to sustainability-oriented target groups,
- convince strategic partners and committed employees who share similar values, and
- gradually prepare yourself for (future) legal requirements.
Through the Climate Impact Qualification, secure professional and free support—not only from us and the Sustainability Office at the University of Cologne, but also from our renowned partners: the Wuppertal Institute and the EWI at the University of Cologne.
The Wuppertal Institute (WI) is a leading think tank dedicated to impact- and application-oriented research on sustainability and transformation. The Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne (EWI) makes new knowledge about complex energy markets accessible.
As a graduate of the Climate Innovation Qualification, you will become part of our Climate Innovation Expert Hub, which brings together scientists, companies, startups, investors, and funders with a clear focus on climate issues. You will have the opportunity to present your findings and learnings to the active community and gain access to events, expert talks, and roundtables.
Timing Climate Innovation Qualification
Kickoff event marking the start of the Climate Impact Qualification on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
Closing event with certificate presentation: November 4, 2026, at InnoDom Cologne.
10 online sessions on Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. between June 17 and October 21, 2026.
The application deadline for the first cohort of the Climate Impact Qualification is May 31, 2026.
Who can participate in the qualification program?
Startup advisors, startup coaches, or technology transfer scouts at universities in North Rhine-Westphalia working in tandem with one of their startups.
Can I participate in the program as a startup advisor or a startup even without a tandem partner?
Yes, you can register even without a tandem partner if you’re interested in the qualification program. Please indicate this when you register. We’ll get back to you. However, startups and business consultants must have a clear affiliation with a university in North Rhine-Westphalia.
What do I need to register?
When registering, please provide the following information: your name, the organization/university you are affiliated with, your contact information, and the name of your tandem partner (if applicable). Both startup advisors and founders should register individually.
What dates do I need to set aside for the Climate Impact Qualification?
In addition to the opening event (10 June) and closing event at Innodom Cologne (4 November), the following Wednesday afternoons are scheduled as online sessions, each running from 4 pm to 6 pm:
June 17, 2026 | July 1, 2026 | July 15, 2026 | July 29, 2026 | August 12, August 2026 I August 26, 2026 I September 9, 2026 I September 23, 2026 I October 7, 2026 I October 21, 2026
What specific topics will I be learning about in the qualification program?
In this qualification program, you’ll learn the methods and standards used to track and calculate greenhouse gas emissions, as well as how to establish a robust emissions baseline for startups.
You’ll gain an overview of current and upcoming legal requirements in the areas of climate protection and sustainability, as well as the obligations—and opportunities—these present for startups. Above all, you’ll learn to strategically assess regulatory developments.
Together, we’ll answer the following questions: How can actual or future emissions be concretely reduced along the value chain? What economic value, competitive advantages, but also costs and risks arise in connection with investments in climate protection measures?
All participants will also learn not only to collect relevant metrics but also to communicate them transparently, credibly, and professionally to external stakeholders.
You will receive the detailed agenda for the individual sessions after you register.
What if I can't attend certain sessions?
To receive certification, you must attend 80 percent of the sessions. You may miss up to two sessions.
Is there a recording available if I missed an appointment?
We’ll provide a recording and a written handout afterward so you can catch up on what you missed.
Do I need to complete assignments outside of the online sessions during the qualification program?
There are no mandatory assignments for preparing for or following up on the individual sessions. However, the closing event on November 4, 2026, is designed for you to present your ideas, what you’ve learned, and your planned actions in a short pitch.
Contact person Climate Impact Qualification:
Climate Innovation Expert Hub
Through the Climate Innovation Expert Hub, we connect stakeholders from academia, politics, business, and the startup scene. By offering tailored programs and curated formats, we bring together relevant knowledge on climate innovation with the goal of generating concrete synergies and sustainable impact.
In Expert Talks, columns, and at events, we tackle real-world challenges, discuss new trends, and share proven best practices. We address topics early on and ensure that scientific insights, political perspectives, entrepreneurial experience, and innovative ideas come together directly.
The Expert Hub is not a static network, but an active community where climate expertise is further developed and profitable collaborations are forged.
Contact person Climate Innovation Expert Hub:
Climate Innovation.NRW is funded by:
